Latest Car & Driver test LPE 725hp 542cid Viper!

[Mike Brunton]

This is one hell of a Viper. They bore the block a tad and lengthen the stroke from 3.88 to 4.25, giving 542cid. They use the stock crank and rods, although they use aluminum pistons and bump the compression to 10.5. They also use larger valves with stiffer springs and titanium retainers, and they use roller rockers and a custom cam. This produces 725hp and 740lb-ft of torque!

Their listed times for the 1/4 are 11.0@134 on street tires! Yikes! That is a fast time. That's compared to Hennessey's 650R which they tested at 11.4@129 and TNT's King Snake which ran 11.4@131mph. That's a fair bit more power to get to 134mph through the traps on street tires!

Sounds like a nice package. They also commented that it doesn't feel that much faster than a stock Viper, because it's very easy to drive considering how much more power it puts out. They noted a little tirespin on the 1-2 shift (after a delicate launch of course), but no problems with traction after that.

When is Hennessey's 800TT going to be tested? I'd love to see a mag test one of Levin's cars too - that would be a hoot.

 

[Mike Brunton]

Vet4,

I don't think it's on the website - I checked briefly and didn't see it. I read it in the new issue that arrived in my mailbox today - the January 2001 issue.

Only a 2-page article, but this was a pretty good issue, so would be worth buying it. If you don't have access to it, I can scan it and email it to you.

 

[Gerald]

Sounds like on heckuva ride!
Anyone know how to get ahold of one of the car mags? I'd love to see a write up on some of Dougs Vipers' he's got. 'Specially that blower car he brought to VOI6 that ran near 150MPH!
Bet the car testers would **** their britches at 1,200 HP to 1,500HP +! that rides like a stock Viper...!


Gerald

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Hey, Gerald, looks like we have an idea of what your Viper should do. Do I get to try it?

 

[Mike Brunton]

Don,

Thanks for the info on Modern Performance. Where are these guys located? I always like to hear about the tuners who are making real power on the Vipers - especially if they do it for less bucks than the big guys.


Gerald,

Getting in touch with the mags is not hard... but there IS a lot of politics involved in getting a write-up on a car. There are TONS of shops that will make high horsepower cars, but will never be written about. In the article I mentioned, they said the LPE was "king of the snakes" but that they expected HMS and TNT to respond in kind. They obviously do not know about SVSi or Levin's packages. Give them a shout and see what they say. Levin isn't a fly by night shop - he has worked on many Vipers and I'd LOVE to see one of his SC'ed cars in a mag. If you offer your car up as a test mule, maybe they'd bite

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[9secRT]

What many of yall fail to remember is that the cars being tested need to be street legal. The car Doug brought to VOI was impressive but lets be honest. This thing had NOS, blower, and everything else he could put on it. I am not for sure how streetable this car would be for everyday driving. It is great LPE has a Viper in the magazine and it really shows some impressive numbers. Take nothing away from this car because if anyone can put out the power it would for sure be LPE with all the resources he has. Maybe one day we could all get these cars together for one big shootout and just see who has the best of the best. Don Nase, Joe Calabelly, LPE, Paul Suloff, HMS, TNT, Norm Koerner, Jim O'Boyle and everyone else from North, South, East, and West how about it?????????

The Houston Viper Club has tossed around the idea of putting on one big Drag event with as many of the big boys attending as possible. I will get back with everyone as details progress.

Mark H.